The Detroit Lions picked up a preseason win over the Washington Commanders at Ford Field, and with two exhibition games in the books and one still to play, the roster picture is starting to take shape. Some players are making their cases louder by the week, while others are forcing the competition at a few spots to get even tighter.
A few Lions helped themselves in a big way against Washington.
Skyler Gill-Howard, DT, was everywhere. After turning heads last week with a pair of strong, high-energy plays against the Cincinnati Bengals, he kept the momentum rolling against the Commanders.
He was a constant presence in the middle of the line, collapsing pockets and holding his ground against double teams. He also showed some quickness and touch when matched up one-on-one.
Gill-Howard and D.J. Wonnum combined for a sack of Sam Hartman, though it came back because of a defensive holding penalty in the secondary.
Even without the sack in the books, Gill-Howard’s impact was obvious early and often, and he even got work on early downs. He had already been on the bubble, but this performance felt like another step toward locking down a spot.
Jackson Meeks, TE, answered a real need for the Lions. With Sam LaPorta’s health a looming question, someone from the tight end group needed to stand out, and Meeks delivered the biggest playmaking day of the bunch.
Tyler Conklin had some solid moments as both a receiver and blocker, but Meeks was the go-to target for both quarterbacks. He turned six targets into four catches for 33 yards, and while his blocking still needs work, he kept finding ways to get open and make himself useful.
He also added a late special teams play, forcing a fumble on a kickoff in the fourth quarter. For a TE4 spot that leans heavily on special teams value, that kind of moment matters.
Devin White, LB, keeps looking like more than just a depth add. Signed after Jimmy Rolder’s injury, White initially seemed like a straightforward roster fill-in.
Instead, he has been stacking good days in Detroit. Against Washington, he finished with three tackles, forced an incomplete pass early, and stayed active against the run.
His game looks better suited to early-down work than coverage, but that still fits a role the Lions clearly value. During the in-game interview with senior advisor Chris Spielman, Spielman was complimentary of White and said he and Malcolm Rodriguez have “a great competition going on.”
Rodriguez may still be viewed by many as the clear LB3, but White is making that discussion less certain by the day.
Tay Martin, WR, also did enough to keep his name in the conversation. The box score only shows one catch for 11 yards on four targets, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.
He had one near-catch that could go either way depending on how you want to judge it, and he was getting open often enough to keep drawing looks. He also started with Isaac TeSlaa and Greg Dortch in three-receiver sets, which is a good sign for where he stands in the pecking order.
Cedrick Wilson had the better receiving line with two catches for 22 yards, but he also left with an injury. Martin’s biggest plus may have come away from the ball, though, with a touchdown-sealing block on Joshua Dobbs’ 50-yard run to the end zone.
Detroit likes receivers who can block, and Martin is helping himself there while also contributing on special teams. If Wilson’s injury lingers, Martin’s path gets even more interesting.
Eric O’Neill, DE, made his presence felt again even with a lighter workload. After playing 38 snaps against the Bengals, he was down to just nine against Washington, according to Pro Football Focus, but he still found a way to matter.
He helped take over the Commanders’ final drive, forcing Craig Reynolds outside on second down, making a run stop on third down, and then helping pressure the quarterback into an incompletion on fourth down. O’Neill has done enough to keep flashing, but the math is working against him.
With Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Wonnum, Derrick Moore, and Ahmed Hassanein ahead of him at edge, plus Tyler Lacy, Levi Onwuzurike, and Gill-Howard in the defensive line mix, the 53-man roster is getting crowded fast.
Right now, O’Neill looks like the 54th man. If he clears waivers, he should be a strong candidate for the practice squad.
In Other News...
Lions Could Raid Ben Johnsons Bears For Help After Cutdowns
As the roster churn settles after cutdowns, the Lions could be watching Chicago a little more closely than usual. The Bears have a few players who may draw interest around the division, and Detroit is in the kind of spot where depth pieces, special teams help and insurance at more than one position can matter just as much as splashier additions.
Kyler Gordon is the most intriguing name in the group because of his versatility, while Roschon Johnson could appeal as a physical back with room to fit into a rotation. Jamree Kromah is more of a developmental flier, but those are the kinds of low-cost bets teams often make in late August. Nothing is guaranteed, and it all depends on how Chicago sorts out its final roster, but Detroit has enough familiarity with Ben Johnsons new home to keep an eye on what shakes loose. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Center Battle Just Got More Unsettling Before Week 1
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Dan Campbell acknowledged the situation, and now the competition appears to be narrowed to Juice Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Tate Ratledge. For a team that values continuity up front, every practice rep at center carries extra weight, and injuries only make the evaluation more complicated. The Lions still have options, but the path to a dependable answer in the middle looks a little less straightforward than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie DT Is Flashing But One Issue Still Threatens His Role
Skyler Gill-Howard made a strong impression in the Lions preseason win over Washington, flashing the kind of disruptive presence that can turn a rookie into a quick favorite around camp. The defensive tackle earned the highest PFF grade among Detroit defenders who played at least 20 snaps, and his best moment came on a tackle for loss against the Commanders. Dan Campbell singled out his relentlessness and effort, the kind of traits that tend to travel well from August into the regular season.
Gill-Howard has already shown enough juice to make the conversation interesting, especially as a situational pass rusher with a path toward early snaps. But he also knows there is still work to do as he adjusts to the NFL, and he pointed specifically to run defense as an area he needs to sharpen. For a young lineman trying to carve out a role on Detroits front, that part of the evaluation still matters, because the flashes are real but the margin for error at defensive tackle is never very wide. [Read more 🡒]